The Gossip
Show: The Gossip
Venue: Leeds Metropolitan
Date: 26/02/07
After deep-throating her microphone, Beth Ditto has something to confirm; “Leeds, we’re coming out!” And what better way to do it than exploding into camp anthem ‘Lady Marmalade’. Hey sister, go sister indeed; despite not being your average-sized lead singer, Ditto struts about the stage with the confidence of an inflated Freddie Mercury and the sold-out crowd power her strides with applause.
Her need to apologise for her lost-suitcase inspired outfit is in vain - the audience’ll appease The Gossip for as long as it takes to play ‘Standing In the Way of Control’ (victim to relentless play on C4’s Skins adverts) which, let’s face it, is the real reason why this gig is sold out tonight. Yet, the naïve audience soon realises that other gems do exist: ‘Listen Up’ and ‘Yr Mangled Heart’ are both in a similar vein to ‘SITWOC’, whereas fellow band members Deep Purr and Hannah Billie provide the perfect canvas to Ditto’s powerful voice. But it’s a slower number, ‘Coal to Diamonds’ that showcases her bluesy, soulful croon to its full potential.
Sceptics may doubt the longevity of The Gossip, basing it solely on the success of ‘SITWOC’. However, if they continue to produce songs such as those played tonight, they’ll soon be at the top of everyone’s cool list.
